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This paper describes the Physio-chemical analysis and the fatty acid composition of Melia Azedarach seed oil collected from Chhattisgarh. Seeds are collected and studied for their component fatty acid and physiochemical characteristics. Various chromatographic techniques revealed the presence of palmetic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid. Atomic absorption spectrophometric analysis of seeds indicates the presence of Fe++,Mn++,Cu++ cations in it.

Chhattisgarh is one of the largest tribal state and declared as herbal state. About 44% of the total geographical area of state is forest and the forest is mainly of two types i.e. Tropical moist deciduous forest and tropical dry deciduous forest. Local people generally use different part of the local growing plant for the medicinal purpose (Firewood Crops1980). Forest play key role in the lives of people by supplying valuable forest products. The plant seed are rich source of oil & fats. Oil fats are composed of glycosides oils & fats are rich source of energy. For the future development of the state and the country, ayurveda should be regarded and established as a valuable traditional system.

Melia azedarach is traditionally used plant species specially in India having various biological effect. Name Melia azedarach is derived from Greek word Melia means ash tree. Common names of Melia azedarach are Bakain , Ramyaka , Drek , Dharek , Karmuka , Kalo , Neem , Bakaia Nimbu , Bakana nimb (In India) , Chinaberry , Paradise tree , China tree and Paradise of India , Syringa tree (South Africa) , (Rishi and Singh 2003 , Yogendra et al 2009 , Lungu et al 2011). Paradise tree having significant activity , its leaves , flowers and seeds are used in preparation of different medicines. It shows antimicrobial , antipyretic , antimalarial , anthelmintic , antioxidant , vulnerary and hepatoprotective activities. Medicines prepared from Melia azedarach are used for treatment in fever , asthma , ulcer and skin diseases. Its seeds are used in rheumatism. Seed oil is used as brain tonic and good for liver , spleen disorder (Chopral et al. 1960).

Seeds are collected, dried, cleaned and powered. The powered seeds are refluxed with petroleum ether (60-80) using soxhlet apparatus for 8-10 hrs and oil is extracted. The oil is used for different physiochemical analysis. Mixed fatty acid and methyl esters solution were prepared by refluxing with methanol having 1 % sulfuric acid. The solution is used for GLC analysis.

Physicochemical characteristics were determined by AOCS method(A.O.A.C 1980).

GLC analyses were carried out with fast chromatography model of MS Autosystem XL Parkin Elmer.

The physiochemical analysis of seeds and seed oil (Nnamdi et al 2014) of Melia azedarach are tabulated in Table 1-6 given below.
Table-1 : Physiochemical Analysis of Seeds of Melia azedarach(%)

S. No	Nameof Seeds	Oil	Moisture	Ash	Organic Matter (100-Ash%)
1	Melia azedarach	15.70	4.53	1.88	98.12

 
Table-2 : Nutrient Composition of Seeds Melia azedarach(%)

S. No.	Name of Seeds	Protein(P)	Fat(L)	Fibre(F)	Carbohydrate 100-(P+L+F+ash)%
1	Melia azedarach	17.25	15.70	3.85	63.2

Table-3 : Micro Nutrient Content of Seeds of Melia azedarach(PPM)

S. No	Name of seeds	Fe	Mn	Zn	Cu
1	Melia azedarach	483	22	23	10

Table-4:Total Fatty Acid Composition of Seeds Oil of Melia azedarach (%)

S.No.	Name of Seeds	Saturated   Fatty  Acid	Total Unsaturated Fatty Acid	Remarks
1	Melia azedarach	11.04	88.96	15.07Monounsaturated Fatty Acid+73.89 PUFA

Table-5 : Fatty Acid Composition of Seeds Oil(%)

S.No.	Fatty acid	Melia Azedarach
1	Palmitic acid	5.46
2	Stearic acid	2.99
3	Oleic acid	15.07
4	Linoleic acid	73.89
5	Linolenic acid	-
6	Behenic acid	2.59
7	Unidentified acids	-

Table-6 : Nitrogen% and Calorific Value of seeds ofMelia azedarach

S.No.	Analysis	Original Seed	Defatted seed
1	Nitrogen%	0.76	2.76
2	Calorific Value	4734	4018

Table-1 shows the physiochemical properties of the seeds like percentage of oil, moisture,ash and organic matter in the seeds (Nnamdi and Ebele 2014).It shows that inMelia azedarach oil percentage(15.70%),moisture and ash content is low in the  seeds. Melia azedarach has high organic matter content (98.12%). Table-2 shows the nutrient composition of the seeds.The table shows the composition of protein, fat, fiberand carbohydrate composition of the seeds. It shows thatMelia azedarachhas high protein and carbohydrate  content (17.25%) and (63.2%) respectively.
Table-3 shows the micronutrient content of the seeds. The micronutrient are Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu .The table shows that Melia azedarachhas maximum Fe content (483ppm),
Table-4 and Table-5 shows fatty acid composition of the seed oil(Warra et.al 2012). Total saturated fatty acid is  content of  palmetric , steric  acid  and behenic acid.Mono unsaturated Fatty acid (OLEIC  ACID) and PUFA(Linoleic Acid) are present in 15.07% and 73.89% respectively.
Table-6 shows the Nitrogen % and Calorific Value of the seeds of Melia azedarach.

The seeds have low oil percentage. Low ash and moisture content shows good quality of seeds. The seeds have high percentage of carbohydrate hence nutritive. They are good source of micro nutrient. The major fatty acid found is palmetic, steric, oleic, linoleic acid. On the basis of fatty acid composition we found that Melia azedarach is rich in linoleic acid. Melia azedarach is rich in PUFA contents (67.45%) and PUFA is good cholesterol help to reduce the chances of various heart diseases, gastro intestinal disorder and several cancers. Industrially, the oil may be useful in soap, cosmetic and candle making .It is also suitable for incorporation in livestock feed.

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